Bedframe and center support therefor



April 21, 1959 H. SANDS BEDFRAME AND CENTER "SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Dec.22, 1955 IN VEN TOR. ELL/5H7 J 517/7175 BY 0 T420022 United StatesPatent BEDFRAME AND CENTER SUPPORT THEREFOR Hillard J. Sands, Cleveland,Ohio, assignor to Harvard Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,876

4 Claims. (Cl. 5-305) This invention relates to bedframes, especially tocenter supports as used in bedframes of the Hollywood bedframe style.

Heretofore there have been several diiferent types of Hollywood stylebedframes designed and produced commercially in relatively largequantities. These bedframes are normally made from metal angle ironsections that form an open centered rectangle defined by side and crossrails. A bed headboard may be suitably secured to the head portion ofthe bedframe, if desired. In many instances, it is desirable to providecenter supports in this type of a bedframe as such center supportsprevent any excessive deflection from occurring in the center portion ofthe bedframe where most load is applied. It also should be noted thatthese bedframes normally are shipped in a knocked down, or unassembledcondition and that someone, usually an unskilled person, will assemblethe bed frame components at the point of use.

As these bedframes are made and sold in large quantities and may beshipped a long distance between the point of manufacture and theultimate point of sale, it is very desirable that the bedframes beshipped in a compact condition, but it also is very important that thebedframe components be capable of being readily assembled into a sturdy,substantially rigid bedframe with excellent load carryingcharacteristics.

It particularly is important that the center support units of thebedframes be compact and be readily shipped'along with the remainder ofthe bedframe components in the usual container in which a conventionalbedframe would be stored and shipped. Hence, the center support must bemade from compact components that are quite sturdy and yet easilyassembled into a unit readily secured in a bedframe.

In view of the foregoing, it is the general object of the presentinvention to provide a novel type of a center support for a bedframewherein such center support unit is Fig. l is a perspective view of abedframe using a center support of the invention therein;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a cross rail member used in the centersupport of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

When referring to corresponding parts shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison between such similar parts.

Attention now is particularly directed to the details of the structureshown in the drawings, and a Hollywood bedframe is indicated as a wholeby the numeral 1. This bedframe 1 includes a pair of side rails, orrunners 2 and 3, while head cross rail sections 4 extend from each ofthe side rails 2 and 3 and foot cross rail sections 5 extend from thebottom portions of each of the side rails 2 and 3.

All of the side rails 2 and 3 and cross rail sections 4 and 5 normallyare made from suitable angle iron and the cross rail sections 4 and 5usually are pivotally secured to the side rails, but extend normallytherefrom when operatively positioned. Usually each of the cross railsections would be individually riveted to the side rails by one rivet 6for pivotal action with relation thereto so that the bedframe can beshipped with the cross rail sections compactly folded in on the siderails. Any desired other means, such as bolts or the means shown inLeslie K. Jackson U. S. Patent Number 2,607,051, may be used to lock thecross rail sections to extend normally from the side rails.

Fig. 1 of the drawings best shows that support legs 7 are secured toeach of the cross rail sections 4 and 5 characterized by its compact,uncomplicated construction but by the sturdy support characteristicsthereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center support for usein a bedframe wherein the center support is readily adapted to beshipped in a compact, disassembled condition, but be readily assembledby relatively unskilled labor into a solid, sturdy support frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center support unit fora bedframe wherein unitary cross rail sections are provided at the endsof the cross rail unit and Where sturdy support legs are permanently andfixedly secured to the cross rail to protrude only a relatively shortdistance therefrom.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

In order to understand the invention more completely, reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings wherein one currently preferredembodiment of the principles of the invention is shown, and wherein:

and extend downwardly there from for supporting the bedframe 1 and anymattress or other structure carried thereby.

As an important feature of the invention, center support rails 8 and 8aare provided for the bedframe 1 and extend longitudinally thereof. Thesecenter support rails 8 and 8a normally each have a dependent verticallyextending leg or flange and a horizontally directed support leg orflange, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These supp'ort railsare permanently secured together in back to back relation, as by rivets9, so that a T-shaped, strong support unit is provided, which unit iscompact and can easily be shipped with other bedframe components.

The center support rails 8 and 8a are secured to the remainder of thebedframe by means of a pair of center cross rail sections 10, each ofwhich comprises a length of conventional angle iron. These cross railsections 10 usually are made of the same material and of the same sizeand weight angle as the cross rail sections 4 and 5 and are adapted tobe telescopically engaged therewith, as best shown in the drawings. Thecross rail sections 10 likewise form compact, easily stored and shippeditems.

Some adjustable clamp strap means, such as the clamp strap unit 11, isprovided over the telescoped portions of the cross rail members of thebedframe so that such clamp strap unit 11 can secure the cross railsections in desired assembled relation.

Fig. 2 of the drawings best shows that a support leg 12 is permanentlysecured to each of the cross rail sections 10, on the outer surface ofthe dependent flange of such part of the center support unit. These legs12 permanently engage relatively widely spaced portions of the crossrail section, as by rivets 13, to have secure, well reenforcedengagement therewith and provide minimum overall dimensions for thatportion of the center support unit when shipped in unassembled form. Thecenter support rails 8 and 8a and unit made therefrom preferablyremovably engage these cross rail sections 10, as by means of bolts 14,so that the center support unit can be readily assembled at the point ofuse of the bedframe 1. It should be noted that the unit of the supportrails 8 and 8a extends in under the horizontal flanges of the cross railsections to avoid weakening the center rails in any manner at theconnection. Also, the support legs 12 then can be positioned on thecenter axis of the center support rail unit-l Any desired casters 15,glides or similar means can be positioned by the support legs 7 and 12to aid in carrying load on the bedframe.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the conventional components ofthe bedframe 1, including the side rails 2 and 3 and the cross railsections 4 and 5, are of regular construction. The center support ismade from three members, including a pair of the cross rail section andleg units and the center rail unit made from the support rails 8 and 80.Such members can readily be assembled with each other and then besecured to the remainder of the bedframe to complete the bedframe. Theinvention uses a special center cross rail section 10 adapted tointerlock readily with the center support rail, or rails and form asturdy unit at the point of use of the center support and bedframe.Preferably the support legs 12 are permanently secured to the centercross rail section 10 but the center support rail, or rails areremovably held in place to permit compact storage of the unit untilready to be used. Hence, a sturdy bedframe has been provided wherein anattractive center support unit is easily secured thereto. This centersupport unit is made from memhers that are compact and easily stored orshipped, but is been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated thatrno-dification of this particular embodiment of the invention may beresorted to Without departing from the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bedframe, a pair of side rails, cross rail sections secured tosaid side rails and adapted to extend inwardly of the bedframe, a centercross rail for each end of frame, said center 'cross rails each having adependent and a horizontal flange thereon, a support leg secured to theouter surface of the dependent flange of each of said center crossrails, a center support of T-shape in section and having a horizontalflange and a dependent flange and comprising a pair of metal anglesfixedly secured in back to back position, means securing the horizontalflange of said center support to the horizontal flanges of said centercross rails to extend therefrom, said center cross rail at each end ofthe frame extending normally from said center support in bothdirections, said support legs on said center cross rail sections beingpositioned on the longitudinal axis of said center support, and meanssecuring said cross rail sections to said center cross rails to term abedframe.

2. In a bedframe, a pair of side rails, cross rail sections secured tosaid side rails to extend normally therefrom, a center cross railforeach end of the frame, said center cross rails each having adependent flange thereon, a support leg secured to and contacting onlythe dependent flange of each of said center cross rails, a centersupport of T-shape in section, means securing said center support tosaid center cross rails at the ends thereof to extend therefrom normallythereto, said center support having a dependent flange and the saiddependent flange of each of said center cross rails being abuttedagainst the ends of said center support including the said dependentflange thereof to reenforce the connection between said center crossrails and said center support, said support legs on said center crossrail sections being positioned on the axis of said center support, andmeans securing said cross rail sections to said center cross rail.

3. A bedframe comprising a pair of side rails, cross rail sectionspivotally secured to said side rails adjacent each end thereof, centersupport means, and means securing said center support means to saidcross rail sections to complete the bedframe, said center support meansincluding a center bar unit of T-shape in vertical section havinghorizontal and dependent flanges, a center cross rail angle secured tosaid center bar unit at each end thereof intermediate the ends of saidcenter cross rail angles to extend from said center bar unit in oppositedirections normally to the longitudinal axis thereof, said center crossnail angles having horizontal and vertical flanges with such verticalflanges abutting against the ends of said horizontal and dependentflanges of said center bar to reentorce the connection between saidcenter bar and said center cross rail angles, the horizontal flanges ofsaid center cross rail angles extending over and contasting saidhorizontal flange of said center bar unit and being secured thereto, andsupport legs secured to and contacting only the outer surfaces of saidvertical flanges of said center cross rail angles and lying on thelongitudin-al axis of said center bar unit.

4. A bedframe as in claim 1 wherein said support legs have relativelywidely spaced portions thereon extending normal to the longitudinal axisof said center support and securing means for said support legs extendthrough said portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS990,107 Cassell Apr. 18, 1911 2,476,605 Jacob July 19, 1949 2,606,329Connolly Aug. 12, 1952 2,607,051 Jackson Aug. 19, 1952 2,644,959 BlankeJuly 14, 1953 2,644,960 Blanke July 14, 1953 2,745,117 Sands May 15,1956 2,772,424 Roche Dec. 4, 1956

